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Trump 'cared more about investigations of Biden' than Ukraine policy, says impeachment witness – live Trump 'cared more about investigations of Biden' than Ukraine policy, says impeachment witness – live
(32 minutes later)
Bill Taylor says that his staffer overheard Trump asking about ‘investigations’ in Ukraine, during testimony in first day of public impeachment hearingBill Taylor says that his staffer overheard Trump asking about ‘investigations’ in Ukraine, during testimony in first day of public impeachment hearing
The counsel for Republican members of the House intelligence committee, Steve Castor, is pressing Bill Taylor and George Kent on Hunter Biden’s qualifications to join the board of the Ukrainian company Burisma.
Given their decades of experience in public service, Taylor and Kent are unsurprisingly unfamiliar with the resume of Biden, the son of former vice president Joe Biden. Kent and Taylor responded to a number of Castor’s questions about Biden’s qualifications by simply saying, “I don’t know.”
Kent has testified he raised concerns in 2015 about the appearance of a conflict of interest in the younger Biden’s work for Burisma, but he emphasized he had seen no evidence of US officials hesitating to examine the company because of Biden’s role on the board.
As Bill Taylor began his testimony this morning, there was a a stark difference in the coverage on Fox News and elsewhere. A box appeared next to Taylor onscreen, nominally giving background information on the acting US ambassador to Ukraine.
Intriguingly, that background information was sourced from Donald Trump and the GOP’s criticism of Taylor.
“President Trump dismissed Taylor as a ‘never Trumper’,” Fox News informed its viewers. It added: “White House called Taylor’s closed-door testimony ‘triple hearsay’.”
Fox News offered less information on the actual substance of Taylor’s testimony: in which he said he had a “clear understanding” that the release of US aid was tied to Ukraine investigating the Bidens. Specifically, it offered no information.
Other than that, Fox News has so far done its best to present Bill Taylor’s testimony as un-explosive.
As the rest of the media has marveled at Bill Taylor’s statement that Trump “cared more about investigations of Biden” than Ukraine policy, and that a Taylor staffer overheard a Trump phone call where the president asked about “the investigations”, much of Fox News’ coverage has adopted a “nothing to see here” approach.
Across television news coverage, CNN, ABC and MSNBC have repeatedly changed their chyrons to represent the latest revelations from Taylor and George Kent’s testimony, Fox News has kept its own on-screen text staunchly neutral: “TAYLOR AND KENT TESTIFY IN FIRST IMPEACHMENT HEARING.” It was also the only channel to cut to an adbreak as Adam Schiff began questioning the two officials.
Ari Fleischer, a former press secretary for George W. Bush, criticized the questioning of the lawyer speaking for the Republican members of the House intelligence committee.
Republicans on the House intelligence committee appear to be using their questioning time to add credibility to the baseless conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. (The US intelligence community has thoroughly confirmed that Russia interfered in the election.)
But it is worth noting that Republicans have not yet sought to counter Bill Taylor and George Kent’s testimony outlining a months-long campaign by Trump’s allies to pressure Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.
Representative Mark Meadows, one of Trump’s closest congressional allies, spoke to reporters during the recess of the first public impeachment hearing.
Asked about Bill Taylor’s testimony that one of his staffers overheard Trump asking about “investigations” in Ukraine, Meadows said, “Everybody has their impression of what truth is.”
It looks like the White House and its allies may be resuscitating “alternative facts” to push back against the impeachment inquiry.
The first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry has resumed, and the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, Devin Nunes, has started his questioning.The first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry has resumed, and the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, Devin Nunes, has started his questioning.
But “questioning” is a pretty loose term here because Nunes is currently using his time to accuse Democrats of misrepresenting Trump’s communications with Ukraine without posing questions to Bill Taylor or George Kent.But “questioning” is a pretty loose term here because Nunes is currently using his time to accuse Democrats of misrepresenting Trump’s communications with Ukraine without posing questions to Bill Taylor or George Kent.
During her morning caucus meeting, House speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Democrats need a “common narrative” as they continue with public impeachment hearings.During her morning caucus meeting, House speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Democrats need a “common narrative” as they continue with public impeachment hearings.
Pelosi once again emphasized the message around the hearings should be that no president, including Trump, is “above the law.”Pelosi once again emphasized the message around the hearings should be that no president, including Trump, is “above the law.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has arrived at the White House for his visit with Trump, and the pair will have a joint press conference at 3:10 p.m. E.T. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has arrived at the White House for his visit with Trump, and the pair will have a joint press conference at 3.10pm ET.
When asked by pool reporters about the public impeachment hearing, Trump said, “It’s a witch hunt, it’s a hoax. I’m too busy to watch it. I have not been briefed.” He added, “They’re using lawyers that are television lawyers.”When asked by pool reporters about the public impeachment hearing, Trump said, “It’s a witch hunt, it’s a hoax. I’m too busy to watch it. I have not been briefed.” He added, “They’re using lawyers that are television lawyers.”
One of the biggest new lines to come out today’s impeachment hearing so far comes from Bill Taylor’s testimony that US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, told one of Taylor’s aides in July that Trump cared more about “investigations of Biden” than US policies towards Ukraine.One of the biggest new lines to come out today’s impeachment hearing so far comes from Bill Taylor’s testimony that US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, told one of Taylor’s aides in July that Trump cared more about “investigations of Biden” than US policies towards Ukraine.
Here’s the moment in Taylor’s testimony:Here’s the moment in Taylor’s testimony:
And here’s how some political commentators have responded:And here’s how some political commentators have responded:
The first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry has paused for a five-minute recess. When the hearing resumes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee and the minority’s lawyer will get the chance to question Bill Taylor and George Kent.The first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry has paused for a five-minute recess. When the hearing resumes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee and the minority’s lawyer will get the chance to question Bill Taylor and George Kent.
The Republican National Committee is already criticizing the testimony of Bill Taylor, emphasizing the diplomat was told secondhand that Ukraine’s military assistance was held up to demand public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.The Republican National Committee is already criticizing the testimony of Bill Taylor, emphasizing the diplomat was told secondhand that Ukraine’s military assistance was held up to demand public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.
However, that argument may not last long considering one of the people who told Taylor this, Gordon Sondland, will testify publicly next week.However, that argument may not last long considering one of the people who told Taylor this, Gordon Sondland, will testify publicly next week.
Bill Taylor’s testimony that his staffer overheard a phone call between Trump and the US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, in which the president asked about “investigations” in Ukraine casts great doubt on Sondland’s testimony to the House intelligence committee.Bill Taylor’s testimony that his staffer overheard a phone call between Trump and the US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, in which the president asked about “investigations” in Ukraine casts great doubt on Sondland’s testimony to the House intelligence committee.
The White House Twitter account just shared a video of Trump slamming the impeachment inquiry as the “single greatest scam in the history of American politics.”The White House Twitter account just shared a video of Trump slamming the impeachment inquiry as the “single greatest scam in the history of American politics.”
“We’re fighting to drain the swamp, and that’s exactly what I’m doing,” Trump said in the video as longtime diplomats simultaneously testified to efforts by the president’s allies to have Ukraine launch an investigation of Joe Biden.“We’re fighting to drain the swamp, and that’s exactly what I’m doing,” Trump said in the video as longtime diplomats simultaneously testified to efforts by the president’s allies to have Ukraine launch an investigation of Joe Biden.
Trump’s press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, similarly sent a tweet calling the public hearing with Bill Taylor and George Kent a “sham” and a “colossal waste of taxpayer time & money.”Trump’s press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, similarly sent a tweet calling the public hearing with Bill Taylor and George Kent a “sham” and a “colossal waste of taxpayer time & money.”
Bill Taylor told impeachment investigators that he was particularly alarmed by White House efforts to leverage Ukraine’s military assistance as Trump’s allies sought investigations into Joe Biden and his son.Bill Taylor told impeachment investigators that he was particularly alarmed by White House efforts to leverage Ukraine’s military assistance as Trump’s allies sought investigations into Joe Biden and his son.
As Bill Taylor and George Kent publicly testify, House Democrats just announced two more planned closed-door interviews in the impeachment inquiry with David Holmes, an aide to Taylor, and Mark Sandry, an official at the White House office of management and budget who previously refused to testify.
Holmes may well be the aide who overheard Gordon Sondland’s conversation with Trump, in which the president asked the US ambassador to the EU about the “investigations” in Ukraine.
The White House claimed Trump is not watching the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry. However, the president just retweeted 10 messages from Republican accounts pushing back against the inquiry, including this one with a clip from the hearing.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, opened his questioning of Bill Taylor by following up on the diplomat’s new testimony that his staffer overheard Trump asking about “investigations” in Ukraine.
Taylor confirmed his staffer told him that Trump was speaking loudly on the phone to Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU. The staffer overheard Trump ask about “investigations,” which Taylor understood to mean Ukrainian investigations into the 2016 election and Joe Biden.
According to Taylor, Sondland then told the staffer that Trump cared more about an investigation into Biden than other US-Ukrainian policies.
Here is Bill Taylor’s full account of his staffer overhearing Trump asking about “investigations” in Ukraine, which the longtime diplomat just shared with the House intelligence committee:
“Last Friday, a member of my staff told me of events that occurred on July 26. While Ambassador Volker and I visited the front, this member of my staff accompanied Ambassador Sondland. Ambassador Sondland met with [a senior adviser to the Ukrainian president, Mr. Yermak]. Following that meeting, in the presence of my staff at a restaurant, Ambassador Sondland called President Trump and told him of his meetings in Kyiv.
“The member of my staff could hear President Trump on the phone, asking Ambassador Sondland about ‘the investigations.’ Ambassador Sondland told President Trump that the Ukrainians were ready to move forward.
“Following the call with President Trump, the member of my staff asked Ambassador Sondland what President Trump thought about Ukraine. Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for.
“At the time I gave my deposition on October 22, I was not aware of this information. I am including it here for completeness. As the Committee knows, I reported this information through counsel to the State Department’s Legal Adviser, as well as to counsel for both the Majority and the Minority on the Committee. It is my understanding that the Committee is following up on this matter.”
Echoing his closed-door testimony, Bill Taylor said in his opening statement that he was told “everything” Ukraine sought, including a White House visit and the frozen military aid, was tied to a public announcement of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.
The acting US ambassador to Ukraine said of a conversation he had in early September, “Ambassador Sondland also told me that he now recognized that he had made a mistake by earlier telling Ukrainian officials that only a White House meeting with President Zelenskyy was dependent on a public announcement of investigations—in fact, Ambassador Sondland said, ‘everything’ was dependent on such an announcement, including security assistance.
“He said that President Trump wanted President Zelenskyy ‘in a public box’ by making a public statement about ordering such investigations.”
The opening statements from Democratic chair, Adam Schiff, and the senior Republican on the committee, Devin Nunes, reflected the broader messaging battle that has surrounded the impeachment proceedings since they were announced in late September, with Democrats accusing Trump of corruption and Republicans accusing Democrats of running an unfair process.
Schiff said the public impeachment hearings would explore whether Trump sought to exploit Ukraine’s vulnerability, condition White House acts on Ukraine’s willingness to help his reelection, and “whether such an abuse of his power is compatible with the presidency.”
“The matter is as simple and as terrible as that,” Schiff said. “Our answer to these questions will affect not only the future of this presidency but the future of the presidency itself.
“Is this what Americans should now expect from their president? If this is not impeachable conduct, what is?”
In response, Nunes declared the proceedings “a carefully orchestrated media smear campaign” and a “horrifically one-sided process.”
“It’s nothing more than an impeachment process in search of a crime,” he said.
Three Republicans interrupted the proceedings just as the witnesses, Bill Taylor and George Kent, began testifying with demands that the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint launched the impeachment inquiry be called to testify. Schiff rebuffed the demands, but there are likely to be more later.
The White House claimed Trump is not tuning in to the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry, even though his public schedule is clear until noon.
“He’s in the Oval in meetings. Not watching. He’s working,” said White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
However, Trump just retweeted a White House video with the caption, “New hoax. Same swamp.”
More new information from Bill Taylor: the acting US ambassador to Ukraine said a number of senior administration officials, including CIA director Gina Haspel, tried to convince Trump to lift the freeze on Ukraine’s military aid.
According to Bill Taylor’s prepared remarks, one of his staffers overheard a phone call between Trump and Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, in which the president asked about “the investigations.”
Taylor informed impeachment investigators Sondland told the staffer that Trump cared more about an investigation into Joe Biden and his son than other US-Ukrainian policies.
Taylor noted he was not aware of the conversation when he originally testified behind closed doors and was thus adding it to his opening statement now.
Bill Taylor, the acting US ambassador to Ukraine, is delivering his opening statement and similarly emphasizing his long career working for both Republican and Democratic presidents.
Taylor also recounted recent US-Ukrainian history and described the “encouraging, confusing and ultimately alarming circumstances” he encountered when he arrived in Kyiv.
It seems likely that Trump will be displeased with the testimony of the longtime diplomat and Vietnam War veteran, given the president’s preference for officials who look they came from “central casting.”